1003. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process for farmers to request replacement identification tags for cattle; and to detail the internal processes within his Department for the approval of such requests. [65734/26]

It is a legal requirement that all bovine animals are tagged with two official identification tags (one in each ear) displaying a unique identification number within 20 days of birth. The birth of the animal must then be registered via my Department's Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system within seven days of tagging. The bovine retains this ID number for life. Cattle must bear two tags at all times. If a tag is lost the farmer must immediately order a replacement tag. Replacement tags bear the same unique ID number as the original tag.

Farmers order replacement tags from bovine tag suppliers approved by my Department which are integrated with the AIM system. To order a replacement tag the farmer provides their herd number and the tag number of the animal to their tag supplier. The tag supplier will request approval from AIM (via secure webservices) to print and issue the tag. The order will only be approved by AIM if the bovine is located in the requester's herd. A replacement tag must be supplied within three days of a request. Orders for replacement tags indicated as urgent must be issued within two working days of the order being received. Tag suppliers are required to issue tag orders to the name and address provided by AIM.